Liverpool: Tweet reveals why Klopp is secretly happy about Alexander-Arnold injury
By David Gate
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would never welcome an injury but having Trent Alexander-Arnold missing for three games help solves another problem.
A football manager would never wish and injury on a player and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is no different. While the knee injury suffered by Trent Alexander-Arnold this week is a blow it does have the benefit of helping solve another conundrum for the manager.
Everybody in the world who has seen Liverpool play in the last 18 months knows who the first choice attack is for the Reds: Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
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The addition of a new keeper and the development of young players has also made the defensive half of the team utterly predictable for a big game: Alisson Becker, Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson.
But who is Klopp’s best midfield? Ask a 100 Reds and you’ll get a 100 answers. It is the thing everyone is waiting to see an hour before kick off when the team sheets are released.
If you’ve ever been on social media when the news breaks you are aware of the extremes of hype and despair that occurs when the manager picks a trio.
The boss has rotated that position more than any other this season – last year it was the defense. Also he clearly game plans for certain opposition and scenarios.
However you also get the impression that he has more than three favorites! He can’t speak highly enough of Gini Wijnaldum; has constant faith in Jordan Henderson; loves the creativity of Shaqiri and values the defensive quality of Fabinho.
And Naby Keita might be the most talented of the whole bunch.
James Milner has proven himself to Klopp time and time again. He is as dependable as he is professional. The German manager longs to put him in whenever he can but there are so many options.
Klopp not panicking over Trent AA injury - likely to miss only 3 games. Manager let Clyne go because he wants @JamesMilner influence in his dressing room and in team if possible...and back up full back (on both sides) offers opportunity. Gomez back next week too #LFC
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) January 15, 2019
The injury to Alexander-Arnold relieves that one piece of pressure. As Dave Maddock of the Mirror notes, Milner can’t start at right back for the next month and bring all that experience into the side.
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For three weeks at least the midfield dilemma becomes easier for Jurgen Klopp. Would he rather have TAA available? Of course. But he won’t lose any sleep about it with Milly in the ranks.